Category: Uncategorised

  • Why Now is the Perfect Time for First-Time Buyers to Purchase Their New Home

    For first-time buyers, purchasing a home is one of the most exciting milestones in life. It’s a moment full of hope, excitement, and a sense of new beginnings. But with the housing market constantly evolving, timing is everything. If you’re considering buying your first home, now might be the perfect opportunity to take the leap, especially given some upcoming changes to the stamp duty rates.

    What’s Changing?

    Currently, first-time buyers benefit from a special nil-rate stamp duty threshold of £425,000, meaning that if you’re buying a property up to this amount, you won’t pay stamp duty on the first £425,000 of the purchase price. This favourable rate applies to properties with a purchase price of up to £625,000. However, from 31 March 2025, this threshold will reduce. The nil-rate band will drop to £300,000, and the maximum purchase price to qualify will be £500,000.

    What does this mean for you? If you’re a first-time buyer and purchase a property worth £425,000 today, you’ll pay no stamp duty on it. But if you wait until after March 2025, you’ll face an additional £6,250 in stamp duty fees on the same property—making now a far more attractive time to buy.

    At Skipton Properties, we understand the importance of getting the timing right when purchasing your first home. That’s why we want to make this process as seamless as possible for you. We currently have a range of beautiful first-time buyer homes available that not only fall within the current nil-rate stamp duty threshold but are also crafted with the exceptional quality and care we are known for.

    Our homes aren’t just bricks and mortar; they’re the foundations for a happy, fulfilling life. We have carefully designed each property to be more than just a space to live—it’s a place where you can build your future, whether you’re starting a family, establishing your independence, or investing in your future.

    Explore Our First-Time Buyer Homes

    We currently have several natural stone properties available that are ideal for first-time buyers, all eligible for the current stamp duty benefits.

    These homes offer the perfect balance of luxury and practicality, providing you with a beautiful, modern space that feels like home from the moment you step through the door.

    These homes are ready for viewing, and we’d love to show you around. Our friendly team is here to guide you through every step of the process, ensuring that you feel supported and confident in your decision.

    Don’t Miss Out

    With the stamp duty changes coming in March 2025, now is truly the best time to buy your first home. By purchasing today, you could save thousands in additional costs while securing a property that will not only meet but exceed your expectations.

    At Skipton Properties, we’re more than just builders—we’re here to help you create the life you’ve always imagined, in a home that is built to last.

    Contact us today to explore our range of first-time buyer homes and take the next step towards owning your dream home.

  • A Hat-Trick for Craig Piggot: Celebrating His Third LABC Bricks Award Win at The Alders.

    We are beyond proud to announce that Craig, our Site Manager at The Alders in Skipton, has secured a third LABC Bricks Site Recognition Award! This prestigious honour is a reflection of Craig and the team’s ongoing commitment to excellence, earning wins in December, February, and now June. LABC Warranty has once again recognised the attention to detail and dedication to delivering high-quality homes.

    December 2023
    February 2024
    June 2024

    This third award comes at a fascinating time for The Alders, as we approach the final stages of this fantastic development. With only three homes remaining, now is the perfect opportunity to become part of this thriving community. Craig and the team’s hard work ensures that each home is built to the highest standards, offering comfort, craftsmanship, and longevity.

    If you’re considering a move to The Alders, act fast to secure one of these last three available homes. Craig’s award-winning approach ensures you’ll be moving into a property that’s a true testament to quality.

    Congratulations once again to Craig and the team on this remarkable achievement and a big thank you to LABC Warranty for recognising the dedication to excellence!

    The Bricks - Site Recognition Award Winner
  • Leaders Behind Skipton Properties

    At Skipton Properties, we are much more than just homebuilders – we’re a family-run business dedicated to creating homes where families can truly thrive. Every member of our team plays a crucial role in ensuring that our developments reflect the heart of what we stand for: exceptional quality.

    As part of our ongoing commitment to excellence, we have recently updated our Excellence Process. This process is designed to guarantee that each home undergoes rigorous inspections at every stage of construction, leaving no detail overlooked. From the hands-on work of our site teams to the critical reviews by our Directors and our final inspection by our Customer Care Manager, we ensure that every home meets our exceptional standards before being handed over to our customers. This renewed focus on quality and customer satisfaction has become the driving force behind all that we do, and we can’t wait to share more about this process soon!

    Today, we want to introduce you to the leadership team that brings this vision to life and the people behind the homes where families grow, create memories, and build communities.

    Meet Our Leaders

    Sarah B
    Caroline
    Luke

    Excellence in Action

    At Skipton Properties, our dedication to excellence is the foundation of every decision we make. Our Excellence Process reflects this commitment, as each home is rigorously inspected throughout its build, ensuring that it meets the high standards we’re known for. By the time we hand over the keys to our homeowners, we know that the home they’re moving into is built with care, precision, and the values that define Skipton Properties.

  • Discover Exceptional Living at Bolton Gardens, Silsden

    Fancy a traditional four-bedroom home in Silsden? We have a selection of beautiful four-bedroom family homes at Bolton Gardens. Set above Silsden on the Bolton Road towards Addingham and Ilkley, this well-established development offers an ideal blend of rural charm and modern living, with each home crafted from natural stone and featuring exquisite dry stone detailing.

    New Build Homes in Silsden

    Our homes, such as The Rose, The Hartford, The Sharp, The Ermysted, and The Whittaker, each offer a unique layout and design, catering to a variety of lifestyle needs. Whether you’re seeking the family-friendly layout of The Rose, the luxurious open-plan design of The Hartford, or the refined elegance of The Sharp, our homes are designed to offer comfort, style, and practicality.

    Key features across these homes include spacious open-plan kitchen and dining areas, cozy living rooms with garden access, en-suite master bedrooms, and ample storage space. Many homes also feature additional rooms like studies, garden rooms, and utility rooms. Outside, enjoy beautifully landscaped turfed gardens, patios perfect for outdoor living, and plenty of parking options, including garages.

    Bolton Gardens offers not just a home, but a lifestyle, with its stunning location and high-quality construction. Whether you prefer the expansive layout of The Whittaker with its double garage, or the characterful design of The Ermysted with its double bay frontage, you’ll find a home that’s perfect for your family at Bolton Gardens. Visit us or contact today to explore these exceptional homes.

    Our Previously Built Homes at Bolton Gardens:

  • Introducing The Chadwick and The Woodrow: Canalside Living Redefined

    At Skipton Properties, we’re thrilled to present two of our finest homes at The Willows in Silsden: The Chadwick and The Woodrow. Located near the serene canal, these homes combine modern elegance with the tranquillity of canalside living.

    The Charm of Canalside Living Imagine starting your day with a peaceful walk along the canal, just steps from your front door.

    The Chadwick and The Woodrow offer not just beautiful homes but also access to the calming benefits of living near the water—a perfect escape from daily stress.

    Thoughtful Design and Elegance. The Chadwick is a sophisticated three-bedroom home featuring an open-plan living area, a stylish island kitchen, and bi-fold doors leading to the garden. Upstairs, a formal lounge with office potential and a luxurious master suite with a Juliet balcony await.

    The Woodrow mirrors The Chadwick’s elegance but with an added fourth bedroom, providing even more space for family and guests. Both homes boast stunning elevations that enhance their natural surroundings.

    Perfect for Entertaining! These homes are designed with entertaining in mind. Whether it’s a dinner party in the open-plan kitchen or a relaxed evening on the full-width balcony, both The Chadwick and The Woodrow impress. The spacious master suites, complete with en-suite bathrooms, offer a private retreat for relaxation.

    To the left is the view from the position of these properties!

    Insights from our team

    From a build quality standpoint, everything appears to be coming together with the usual high standards we uphold. The structure is solid, and the finishing touches are being executed with great attention to detail. The site team has worked efficiently to ensure that the build remains on schedule, despite any challenges that have come our way. The care taken during the construction process is evident in the quality of the final product, which I’m confident will exceed the future homeowners’ expectations.

    Tom Raveglia, Site Manager

    The layout is not only aesthetically pleasing but also highly functional. The ground floor could be perfect for a cozy family room or a spacious office, ideal for those working from home. The middle level seems well-suited for communal living spaces, with easy access to outdoor areas, perfect for entertaining or simply enjoying the view. The top floor offers a private and peaceful retreat, with stunning canal views to wake up to each morning. 

    Karen Lencki, Sales Advisor

    Pendle Farm – Worsthorne

    The Oaks – Skipton Coming Soon

    The Willows – Silsden

  • Rightmove Reports Housing Market Uplift Following Bank of England Base Rate Reduction

    The UK housing market has received a significant boost following the Bank of England’s recent decision to cut the Base Rate to 5%—the first reduction in four years. This long-awaited move has sparked renewed optimism among home-movers, with Rightmove reporting a surge in buyer interest across the country.

    According to Rightmove’s real-time data, the number of potential buyers enquiring about homes increased by 19% year-on-year since the Base Rate cut was announced at the start of August. This jump in demand represents a substantial improvement from July, where interest was up 11% compared to the same period in 2023. The data suggests that this rate cut has reinvigorated the market, as many prospective buyers see this as an opportune moment to pursue their home-moving plans.

    Tim Bannister, Rightmove’s property expert, commented on the development: “The first Bank Rate cut since 2020 has sparked a welcome late summer boost in buyer activity. While mortgage rates aren’t yet substantially lower, the fact that the long-hoped-for first cut has finally arrived, and mortgage rates are heading downwards, is positive for home-mover sentiment. As the summer holiday season comes to an end, the conditions are there for a more active autumn market.”

    While the reduction in the Base Rate has already had a noticeable impact on buyer activity, the full effect on mortgage rates is still unfolding. Although the lowest available 5-year fixed-rate mortgage is now at 3.83%—the lowest since the mini-Budget in September 2022—mortgage rates remain higher than a few years ago. Bannister advises sellers to remain realistic with their pricing, as affordability challenges persist for many buyers.

    Despite a typical seasonal drop in asking prices this August—down 1.5% from the previous month to £367,785—Rightmove has revised its year-end forecast upwards. The property portal now expects house prices to end 2024 with a modest 1% increase, a significant turnaround from their earlier prediction of a 1% decline.

    Bannister added: “The reaction from home-movers to what is hopefully only the first of several rate cuts over the next year or two, combined with other positive data and trends, has led us to raise our price prediction for the year.”

    This positive momentum suggests that the housing market could be in for a more stable and possibly prosperous end to the year, as the effects of the Base Rate cut continue to permeate through the market.

    Ready to move home? Explore our exceptional quality homes below and find your perfect match.

    Source: Rightmove News

    Pendle Farm – Worsthorne

    The Oaks – Skipton Coming Soon

    The Willows – Silsden

  • Act Now: Falling Mortgage Rates Present a Unique Opportunity for Our Homebuyers

    Mortgage rates are expected to drop even further, with experts predicting they could reach as low as 3.5% by the end of the year. This encouraging news follows recent reductions by major lenders, resulting in some of the most competitive rates we’ve seen in months. As these rates continue to fall, now is the perfect time for potential homebuyers to take advantage of the favourable conditions.

    Skipton Properties New Home Incentives

    At Skipton Properties, we’ve been offering select incentives on specific homes to support our customers during this period of market uncertainty. However, these incentives are not something we typically provide, as we believe in the lasting value and quality of our homes. With the property market poised to recover and stabilise, we anticipate that we will soon begin to reduce or even remove these incentives on these homes.

    Our homes are selling fast across all of our developments, with only a handful of properties remaining at some locations. This strong demand reflects the quality and desirability of our homes, coupled with the current financial opportunities. We strongly encourage anyone considering purchasing a new home to act swiftly before these last few homes are gone.

    This is a rare opportunity to secure a new home with incentives that may not be available for much longer. As mortgage rates continue to decline, the cost of homeownership becomes more manageable, but these conditions won’t last forever.

    Don’t miss out on this chance to benefit from both lower mortgage rates and our current incentive offerings. At Skipton Properties, we’re committed to helping you find the perfect home, and there’s no better time than now to make your move. Secure your future in a quality home today, before these unique opportunities and our remaining homes are no longer available.

    Pendle Farm – Worsthorne

    The Oaks – Skipton Coming Soon

    The Willows – Silsden

  • Customer Stories: John & Pat, living in The Ashton at The Willows, Silsden

    “We lived in the same home for 42 years in Oakworth and fancied a change, this was the perfect location for us, we love being so close to the canal”

    John & Pat

    John & Pat with Site Manager Tom

    We are delighted to share the story of our first residents, John and Pat, who recently moved into their beautiful Ashton home at The Willows in Silsden. They expressed that the moving process is all new to them considering they previously lived in the same home for 42 years, they said our Sales Advisor and the whole team supported them right through the process.

    What attracted you to The Willows development in Silsden?

    Location, right next to the canal on a quiet lane, we like that there is a varied style of homes at The Willows, they’re all different which makes for a good community, the build quality is great and the best we looked at, love the natural stone.

    What factors were most important to you when choosing a new home?

    Size and location again, everything being new and fresh, nothing we need to fix or do, and for us we are at an age where we would like peace of mind that we are in a safe energy efficient home.

    Can you share a bit about why you chose Skipton Properties?

    We liked the build, natural stone over brick, looks far better than brick and more apealing.

    How was your experience with the purchasing process from Skipton Properties?

    Our Sales Advisor, Karen was very good we never felt any pressure, we bought off plan as Karen explained the site to us very clearly. We heard about The Willows site when we were actually considering moving to another one of Skipton Properties sites (Bolton Gardens, Silsden) and Karen recommended we go to have a look at Croft Mill in Foulridge to get a feel of Skipton Properties homes, we loved it.

    Did you encounter any challenges during the purchase, and how were they handled?

    We had some challenges with solicitors as they had changed half way through, there were some documents they couldnt find for us, another challenge we faced was not being experience in the process of purchasing a home these days as we had lived in our last home for so long, so it was daunting but we were supported through it.

    What features or aspects of your new home stood out to you the most when you first saw it?

    We are pleased with how light and roomy it feels, good size bedrooms a nice private garden, our grandkids are fighting over the bedrooms!

    Is there anything Skipton Properties could have done to improve your overall experience?

    No, any snagging was put right straight away and we had some issues with setting up and testing our alarm but that was quickly seen to by Excellence Manager Alan!

    Pendle Farm – Worsthorne

    The Oaks – Skipton Coming Soon

    The Willows – Silsden

  • Customer Stories: Mark, living in the Thames at The Alders, Skipton

    Say hello to Mark, a new resident of ‘The Thames’ at The Alders in Skipton

    “I have been wanting to move for four years and never really thought about new builds. I saw the property on Rightmove and rang your Sales Advisor, Karen, who made me instantly relaxed. She was approachable and professional“.  

    Mark

    What factors were most important to you when choosing a new home?

    I wanted to stay in Skipton and be close to work yet in the countryside. The Alders ticked these boxes. Part Exchange also removed a lot of the stress. I also wanted a plot with lots of greenery and an edge-of-development location.

    Why did you choose a three-storey home like the Thames?

    I was sold on the layout before. The reason why I wanted a three-storey home here was the views from the top floor. I’ve made one of the rooms on the top floor an office and it’s a pleasure to work from there. The things that stood out for me were the garden size, spacious rooms and I like the attached garage.

    How was your experience of the purchasing process with Skipton Properties?

    I honestly expected it to be stressful, but I was wrong. It was relaxed. I particularly enjoyed coming to my various appointments to see my home at different stages of build. Any minor issues I raised before completion were dealt with before I moved in. I was expecting the new build ‘stigma’ but I was incorrect.

    Is there anything you would improve?

    I can’t think of anything and I also don’t mind being on a live development!

    Want to find out more about our final homes at The Alders or indeed our other new build developments? Click on the links below to find out more.

    Pendle Farm – Worsthorne

    The Oaks – Skipton Coming Soon

    The Willows – Silsden

  • A big thank you from all of us – The Willows, Silsden

    Hello everyone

    I am absolutely thrilled to share the wonderful success of our Show Home launch at The Willows. It was a true pleasure to meet so many of you and receive your glowing feedback on our Show Home. Your kind words and enthusiasm mean the world to all of us.

    The Willows development looked stunning, a testament to the hard work and dedication our team has poured into every detail. From the initial planning stages to the finishing touches, creating our homes is always a labour of love, and our passion for building exceptional homes that set us apart is evident in every aspect of The Willows.

    I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to our wonderful and passionate team. Together, we are creating not just houses, but homes where families can thrive and create lasting memories.

    I’m also excited to share that The Willows development is already 40% sold, and we continue to see a high level of interest.

    Today, our talented photographer will be capturing more beautiful images of The Willows, as well as our neighbouring development, Bolton Gardens, and Croft Mill in Foulridge. We can’t wait to share these with you, so watch this space!

    Thank you all once again for your support and enthusiasm especially Lloyd Colne MINI as it’s not too late to late to win a test drive in the NEW MINI Countryman.

    Have a wonderful day!

    Warm regards,

    Caroline

    Sales and Creative Director, Skipton Properties

    Pendle Farm – Worsthorne

    The Oaks – Skipton Coming Soon

    The Willows – Silsden